How do you guy's mute the unplayed strings when slapping?i play mainly 5 string basses,thanks,Joe.
I use the left hand. I used to play guitar years ago and I learned to deaden particular unwanted strings with the sides of my fingers as I strum chords. Like, when they teach you to keep your fingers curled and play with the tip, I had to break that rule and play with the FLAT of a finger or two and let the tip touch-mute the string directly above.
Sometimes, as I'm playing, when it's time to use my second finger, the longest, I would play a note on one of the thicker strings, b or e, then I would leave it there...not fretting, just touch-muting that particular string with the tip while rest of that same finger laying over a couple of other strings, muting, while my other fingers are still playing notes. That moment would last only about a couple of beats.
It just carried over to the bass. I never really thought about it on bass, like, how some people have the 'b' string ringing issue...nope, never had it. I DO remember, like it was yesterday, working out my mute issue on guitar. I had to consciously focus on that. Now, it's automatic.
